Thursday, Apr 5, 2012

City police, the city humane officer and the Columbiana County Dog Warden's Office are investigating a case of animal cruelty after a dog was found deceased with a plastic bag duct-taped around its head.

Police were notified at 2:20 p.m. Thursday after a man walking his dog on Butcher Road, west of Cunningham Road, found the dog in a trash bag.

The city humane officer was called and responded to pick the animal up and upon removing the animal from the trash bag found that someone had placed a plastic bag over the dog's head, then duct-taped the entire head, apparently suffocating the dog.

No other injuries were visible. The dog was described as a young, large black lab weighing up to 100 pounds which was either pregnant or had just delivered pups and had been dead for several days. The dog was wearing a red collar with a blue cable tie that was cut.

Anyone with information should call the Salem Police Department at 330-337-7811.

If you have information on this case, please contact:Salem Police Department330-337-7811

Case Updates

Police have identified the owner of a dead dog that was apparently suffocated and left in a garbage bag near the cul-de-sac on Butcher Road last week.

The Columbiana County Dog Warden is also investigating the animal cruelty case along with the city humane officer.

Officer Gary Poage said the owner lives in the northeast section of the city but declined releasing additional information due to the ongoing investigation.

He said the owner came into the police department on Saturday afternoon and identified two items found with the dog, a red collar and a portion of a blue nylon-coated cable.

The dog had been last seen by the owner on Tuesday, Poage said.

It was found on Thursday afternoon by a man walking his dog on Butcher Road, near the East Pershing Street extension.

The city humane officer picked up the animal that had another plastic bag taped around its head. There were no visible injuries.

Poage said the owner is not under suspicion.

The large black female lab wasn't pregnant and had not just delivered pups as investigators initially thought, but Poage said the body was bloated because it had been dead for several days.

The dog, which was left outside all the time, either chewed through the cable or broke it loose.

Police have received over 20 calls and collected more than 90 Facebook hits after opening the investigation.

Resident Alan Price said he was offering a $500 reward for any information on the person(s) that killed the dog but requested he be contacted directly at 330-692-3562 or at: alanprice@sbcglobal.net.

Anyone with information should call the Salem Police Department at 330-337-7811.

References

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